A new radio ad from Barack Obama says he "has taken up the torch" from Jesse Jackson.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) - Sen. Barack Obama launched a new radio spot in South Carolina Tuesday declaring that he is following in the footsteps of Jesse Jackson, who ran for president in 1984 and 1988.

The ad is narrated by Rev. Jackson's son, Illinois congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., who says in the scrip that "Barack Obama has taken up the torch" from his father.

Jackson won the South Carolina Democratic caucus in 1988.

The 60-second spot suggests that Obama has a stronger connection to the black community than other Democrats.

"A lot of politicians call themselves our friends," Jackson Jr. says in the ad. "But Obama has a heart that beats for our community. And he’s dedicated his life to the struggle."

In September, the elder Jackson told a South Carolina audience that Obama was "acting like he's white" in responding to the Jena 6 case. Jackson has since reaffirmed his support for Obama.

The radio ad is Obama's third here, and it will run on 36 gospel and R&B stations across the state. His chief rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton, launched her first radio ad here last month, which is also targeted at African-American voters.

While Obama and Clinton are running radio ads, no Democratic presidential candidate has purchased television airtime in the state.

soundoff(79 Responses)

i dont want some one telling me there taking jesse jasksons legacy place oh good gawd,he doesnt have his own merits ,this canidate is withering storms,somehow someway i do not believe this man is truthfull,hes against gays,for gospeland, islam,thinks he god to the country ,i am correct,i cant give ya my vote no way.

IT DOESNT MATTER IF YOU ARE EDUCATED IF YOUR UNABLE TO UTILIZE COMMON SENSE IN YOUR PERCEPTIONS OF EACH CANDIDATE. YOU REFERENCED QUOTES FROM CLINTON...If white women were effected by AIDS as black woman are in America this country would be more concerned." She said, "It is very unfortunate that black people are not treated the same as white people in the criminal justice system"...
YOU FAIL TO SAY THAT THE FIRST QUOTE WAS A PANDERING LINE IN FRONT OF A NAACP AUDIENCE( WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU EXPECT HER TO SAY!)..AT LEAST OBAMA STATED IN FROM OF A MAFORITY BLACK AUDIENCE THAT WE AS BLACK MEN HAVE TO OWN UP TO OUR OWN RESPONSIBILITIES (THAT TO ME ISNT PANDERING, ITS BEING REAL)..ABOUT HER CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMENT..SHE ACTUAL HAD THE EAR(AND LET HER TELL IT) THE POWER OF THE PRESIDENT WHEN HER HUSBAND WAS IN OFFICE FOR 8 YRS...I THINK THAT WE ARE HAVING THE SAME CONVERSATION ABOUT INEQUALITY IN SENTENCING AS WE HAD PRIOR TO THEM BEING IN OFFICE FOR 8 YRS..AND BY THE WAY THE JENA 6 SITUATION IS A RIGHT/WRONG ISSUE...ANYBODY REGARDLESS OF COLOR CAN BE RAILROADED BY THE LEGAL PROCESS..THE SIGN OF A TRUE LEADER ISNT TO PANDER TO RACIAL DIVIDES IF THERE IS COMMON THREAD TO BRING US TOGETHER....

so what i want to know is who's gonna hold the torch out the limo moon roof as they tour/campaign thru (as jesse refered it as) Hymie Town ......once again Jesse has done more to ruin a Black man.........he is the epitomy of black on black crime....